Hearts potential Conference League opponents as Champions League semi finalists and potential Battle of Britain lie in wait

The disappointment of missing out on the Europa League group stage and the £5million cheque to go with it will still be lingering around Tynecastle after their defeat to Zurich. But when the Jambos staff and punters have a look at their potential Conference League opponents then they will soon be buzzing again in anticipation of the group stage of UEFA's third tier competition.

When teams drop into the Europa League from the top competition they often land draws that has them saying 'That's a Champions League group in all but name'. And it's the same with the Conference League. In fact, a scan of who is in the Conference League draw in Istanbul and you could say many are Champions League class.

Take top seeds Villarreal, for example, who reached the last four of the premier competition last season where they lost to eventual runners-up Liverpool. And then there is the prospect of a Battle of Britain clash with David Moyes and his West Ham United side plus Italian giants Fiorentina who are in Pot 2.

Here's a full list of who Hearts could face when the draw takes place at 1.30pm.

Pot 1 - Villarreal, Basel, Slavia Prague, AZ Alkmaar, Gent, Istanbul Basaksehir, Partizan Belgrade, West Ham United

Pot 2 - CFR Cluj, Molde, FCSB, Fiorentina, Cologne, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Apollon Limassol, Slovan Bratislava

Pot 3 - Nice, Anderlecht, Zalgiris Vilnius, Austria Vienna, HEARTS , Shamrock Rovers, Sivasspor, Vaduz

Pot 4 - Dnipro, Lech Poznan, Slovacko, Silkeborg, Djurgarden, Pyunik, RFS, Ballkani

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